King James Bible
"But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours."
The tenant farmers recognize the son instantly and conspire together, revealing their premeditated wickedness. In Jesus' parable, these husbandmen represent Israel's religious leaders who reject God's messengers, and their deliberation shows calculated rebellion rather than ignorance. Their acknowledgment of the son's identity as heir makes their crime more heinous—they know exactly who he is. This mirrors how the religious authorities would recognize Jesus as Messiah yet still plot his death. The tenants' delusional logic assumes murdering the heir will transfer ownership to them, exposing both their greed and foolishness. Their attempt to seize what belongs to another foreshadows the Jewish leaders' rejection of Christ to maintain their power.